Floating an idea for a meetup in Sheffield, South Yorkshire

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Hello everyone

I'm basically trying to find out if there would be any interest in people attending a meetup in the Sheffield area.

Bit lacking in detail at the moment as I'm only really floating the idea to see if there were sufficient people interested for it to be worth my while.

I'm also thinking rather then staying in the actual city itself the meetup could be somewhere out in the peak district. Hopefully when the spring comes the improving weather should make it more hospitable out here. I'm undecided on what location as Ideally I would like to make this as accessable to people as possible. So I was thinking of somewhere in the Hope Valley which has a railway line running through it between Manchester and Sheffield for those who needed to get intercity services back home.

On the otherhand where I live is on the trans penine trail and in easy access of Sheffield though it would require an extra train journey to my town Penistone or for easier access Barnsley (yeah I can hear the enthusiam already with that suggestion)

Having been to another London meetup contending with noise and busy hectic clutter that cities have I thought it might be a change to have a more rural setting for a meetup.

Anyway what do you think? Suggest?

It sounds like a good idea. I went on holiday to the Hope Valley once and found it to be very peaceful and relaxing.

I did enjoy the London meetup yesterday, but in a noisy environment I find it hard to follow what people are saying - it takes a lot of concentration, and I cannot keep it up for very long. It is much easier in a quiet environment.

Thinking about the noisey environment of London from yesterday is what made me think of this idea really. Although I was born there I don't miss the noisey environment one bit compared to the rural town I live in now. I also can't recall any meetup being organised that was in a rural location. But the hope valley is quite fortunate to have an east/west railway line between two major cities running through it so its not completly isolated.

Having thought about it some more on the drive back home today I guess people would also have to be prepared to have appropriate gear and clothes incase of rain or other british weather phenomina. Also might have to find a route thats not particular exertive. I dont want to have to get the air ambulance out for people or perform CPR on anyone

Ok I think im warming to this end of the Hope Valley.

It is situated near Grindleford
http://www.derbyshire-peakdistrict.co.u ... rdwalk.htm

With the Longshaw estate owned by the national trust nearby

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-longshawestate

You can reach Grindlethorpe by railway from either Sheffield or Manchester

Image

There is also a bus service but it is less frequent then the local train service.

There is a local pub which is quite popular with hikers its quite big and usually not too busy until you get closer to the summer time when the tourists start coming out.

http://www.vintageinn.co.uk/thefoxhouselongshaw/

Theres a lot of nice scenary, cultural heritage, sheep and heather around this part of the hope valley. Not too far away are some popular spots for climbers as well. Not too far away is a nice little spot I usually goto sit at when I feel the need for a bit of solitude and peace.

Anyway let me know if your interested and if anyone has any suggestions they wish to bring forward

(PS Seashell I sent you a PM check your inbox please)

I live in Lancashire so it's a bit far for me to come and going on my own is a non-starter I'm afraid. Nice idea though.

A walking meet-up is a great idea! otherwise there can be a tendency towards sitting in one place, and i think this can exacerbate peoples anxiety. Its also much more sociable if people move around fluidly.

the only problem for me would be the punctuality required, so i wouldnt know until the day if i had time to get there.

Punctuality certainly may be an issue particularly for those coming from afar. It would probably mean an early start for some people depending how far away they were coming from.

is there any camp sites near by so people could come the day before and sleep over?

Yeah there is in the village of hope down the road

the hammersmith evenings are quieter - often we get an section of the pub to ourselves, or there are only a few people nearby.



or if its rural enough, just sleep rough in the woods. i havent done that for ages!

I think sleeping rough might make people nervous, Im sure even you would be scared being alone with me in a wood at night

Don't; you might tempt him.

no he is above temptation, he would be more likely to be sick in his mouth a little

The hope valley is fairly cultivated and worked landscape. However if your up for the bushcraft kinda experiance there are groups who meetup near London and the home counties. Me and Firecrest go on the meetups that are held in Coventry and Manchester. The coventry meetup is actually within walking distance of Mutate's house on the northern outskirts of coventry.

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/
http://www.bushcraftliving.com/

Quite a few people with AS and Dyspraxic are involved in these communities so if you fancy a venture go check them out. Me and Firecrest have been to quite a few of the meetups so we know some of the crowd from the midlands and manchester/yorkshire area.

This has given me the idea of doing a more bushcraft kind of orientated meetup with aspies. I wouldn't mind trying something like that out on a small scale meetup. You definatly need to know what your doing and im not confident in my skills to really be planning n organising something like that. People would need to have the right gear and some understanding of the various skills involved. Might post about it on the forums I've listed there see what members in those communities think

The Hope Valley meet up looks like a great idea Laz. I live right near the centre of Manchester so I shouldn't have a problem getting there by train. And being as I am a Mancunian, rain doesn't really put me off as we get it all the time . Just keep me posted about when you are thinking of doing this and I'll see if I can come along

I'd be very interested in a 'bushcraft' type meetup just about anywhere in the UK! Honestly, I never realised there was an link between AS and these communities. But it makes sense, I can't be the only person who gets on better with just about every other species than with human beings.

I already had a plan to get involved in some bushcraft courses this year, many thanks for the links, Laz. Many years ago, I was much more 'practiced' at living outdoors. And I'm wanting to restore some of that after a couple of decades away.